Interlocking tool-free-assembly

Abstract

An assembly of interlocking, flat, relatively stiff components consisting of identical plate members joined by identical spacers forms a decorative display that may be stored and shipped in a flat knocked down configuration and assembled by a relatively inexperienced person without the use of tools or separate fasteners. Besides serving in a purely decorative capacity, the device may be used to display items, such as jewelry, in a retail establishment and also used in a home for storage purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interlocking assembly comprising: a pair of substantially identical sub-assemblies;   each of said sub-assemblies comprising a plurality of substantially flat, stiff components;   said sub-assemblies being received in interlocking relationship with each other and forming said assembly.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said sub-assemblies comprises substantially flat, stiff plate members interconnected by substantially flat, stiff spacers. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said sub-assemblies is substantially C-shaped. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said sub-assemblies are disposed with the plate members of one sub-assembly positioned at substantially 90° with respect to the plate members of the other of said sub-assemblies. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said sub-assemblies comprises a pair of plate members interconnected in substantially parallel relationship to each other by a spacer. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said plate members are each provided with means defining spacer slots and said spacers are provided with spacer ears received in said spacer slots. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said plate members are each provided with open-ended channels extending inwardly from an edge thereof and said plate members of each sub-assembly are received in the channels of the other sub-assembly. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein each of said spacers includes locking tabs, each of said plate members includes means defining therein locking slots and said locking tabs of each of said spacers are received in the locking slots of said plate members. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said channels comprise at least a pair thereof in each of said plate members, each of said pair of channels defines a resilient tongue and said locking slots are formed in said tongues. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said sub-assemblies comprise substantially identical plate members interconnected by substantially identical spacers and said plate members are provided with earring post receiving apertures adjacent their peripheries. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising means defining shaft receiving openings in said spacers, a base and a shaft mounted in said base and rotatably received in said shaft receiving openings in said spacers. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said plate members comprise a series of lobes that impart a tree-like appearance to said assembly. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said plate members are substantially square. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said plate members are substantially circular. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said plate members are substantially hexagonal. 
     
     
       16. An interlocking assembly comprising: first and second pluralities of plate members,   each of said plate members comprising: means defining open-ended channels each extending inwardly from a first edge of said plate member and terminating at a closed terminal end inwardly of said first edge,   means defining closed-ended spacer slots extending in non-parallel relationship to said channels intermediate said channels terminal ends and a second edge of said plate member opposite said first edge thereof,   closed-ended locking slots extending parallel to said spacer slots intermediate said channels, and   means defining earring post receiving apertures adjacent peripheries of said plate members,     first and second spacers,   each of said spacers comprising: a plurality of spacer ears,   a plurality of locking tabs disposed intermediate said spacer ears, and   means defining shaft receiving openings in said spacers,     said first and second spacers being received by said first and second pluralities of plate members, respectively, with said spacer ears positioned in said spacer slots thereby forming first and second sub-assemblies, respectively,   said plate members of said first sub-assembly being received in said plate member channels of said second sub-assembly and said plate members of said second sub-assembly being received in said plate member channels of said first sub-assembly with said terminal ends of said first sub-assembly plate member channels positioned adjacent said terminal ends of said second sub-assembly plate member channels and with said locking tabs of said first spacer received in said locking slots of said second plurality of said plate members and said locking tabs of said second spacer received in said locking slots of said first plurality of plate members to interlock said sub-assemblies with each other,   a base, and   a shaft mounted in said base,   said shaft being rotatably received in said shaft receiving openings of said spacers.   
     
     
       17. An interlocking assembly comprising: a pair of substantially identical sub-assemblies, each of said sub-assemblies comprising a plurality of substantially flat, stiff plate members interconnected by substantially flat, stiff spacers, said spacers defining shaft receiving openings, said sub-assemblies being received in interlocking relationship with each other;   a base; and   a shaft mounted in said base and rotatably received in said shaft receiving openings.   
     
     
       18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said plate members are each provided with open-ended channels extending inwardly from an edge thereof and said plate members of each sub-assembly are received in the channels of the other sub-assembly. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of said spacers includes locking tabs, each of said plate members includes means defining therein locking slots, and said locking tabs of each of said spacers are received in the locking slots of said plate members. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said channels comprise at least a pair thereof in each of said plate members, each of said pair of channels defines a resilient tongue, and said locking slots are formed in said tongues.